The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-06-29
A TALE OF '53.
BY FRANK j. MARTIN.

"Thc Yellow Girl" one of the palatial
stages on the Southwestern Line, rolled
into One Hoss Gap one fine afternoon in
the month of June, in the year of grac
1858. Old Bill Keats held the ribbons in
those days. Bill was a jolly fellow, with a
heart like n lions, and double storage ca
pacity for poor whisky. On this particular
day Bill had imbbed pretty freely, and was
not very sorry that he had but one pas
senger and that on booked for One Hoss
Gap. His passenger was a tall, well built
young man, about twenty five, and good
looking.
Tom Pate, the proprietor of the Hotel
Europe, was standing in the doorway of
his hotel anxiously waiting for the Yellow
Girl to appear in the bend of the road
about mile below. On the veranda, near
by, sat man clothed in a miners garb and
smoking contenledly, but keeping a lookout
for the stage. When the stage drew up at
the door this man disappeared behind the
hotel, while the landlord welcomed his new
guest and took care of his luggage.
The young stranger registered as Walter
Paine, of San Francisco, and asked to be
shown TO his room at once. When the
landlord left his room he drew from his
pocket copy of the New York Torch and
read the following:
"The body of the young lady that was
picked up in the East Riverlast Friday has
been identified as being that OF Miss
Louise Ballard. The friends of the young
woman say that she was betrayed by Il
young wealthy miner from California, and
that from the day he deserted her she
showed unmstakable evidences of insan-
ity. 1t is more than probable that, driven
60 madness by her shame, she sought re-
lief In the cool waters of the East River"
The young man paced the room as he
read and reread the article. Then he drew
from his pocket another packet containing
a photograph and letter. He studied tie
photograph for some time and then read
the letter. 1t ran as follows:
"ST. LOUIS, May 30, 1853
DEAR WALTER: Your idea is good one.
Herewith find the photograph / promised
YOU. i found it in LUIS trunk. Keep a
sharp lookout, and if you get clue fol-
low it to the end. / will meet you at the
appointed place on time. ALBERT"
IL took several minutes for him to get
calm, so excited had he become. Just AS
he mad returned the paper and envelope to
his pocket, the landlord raped on the door
and inquired if his guest desired any sup
per. He claimed that he had been calling
to him from the foot of the stairs for sew
eral minutes and had obtained no reply.
The young stranger apologized and as
sured him that he was pretty hungry,
whereupon they both repaired to the DIM
ing-room.
Tom Pate, the proprietor of the Hotel
Europe. took an active part in the manage
ment of his establishment. SO active was
it, indeed, that he filled the positions of day
and night clerk, porter and head waiter.
He would have been bell-boy if there had
been bell in One Hoss Gap. 1t is unnec-
.essary 10 remark that the Hotel Europe"
was not overcrowded with guests at any
time. The two now under its roof were
the first ones in three weeks. The man
who had been sitting on the veranda was a
guest and had been there for several days.
His name, or at least the one he gave was
Tom Whittleby, and he was n miner return
ing to California after enjoying big spree
in New York.
When Tom Pate entered the dining
room he introduced the two strangers TO
each other and then began to serve up sup
per in an elaborate style-that is, on the
dishes.
Walter Paine ate but little supper that
evening, for between studying the features
of Whittleby and interesting himself in the
struggle for supremacy between the flies
and the butter, he lost his appetite. The
former afforded him much food for mental
digestion, while the struggle between the
two most powerful enemies in the Hotel
Europe settled all his cravings for food.
Supper over, the two guests repaired to
the "otfice," and procuring cigars they fell
into friendly chat. Tom WHITLEY be-
gan to narrate some of the stormy stories
of his life. He warmed up and said many
little things that were highly interesting to
Walter. Walter said but little until he had